Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (1891 – 1915)
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Henri Gaudier was a French sculptor, known for his direct style of carving. Gaudier was born in the town of Saint-Jean-de- Braye near Orléans, where he lived until moving to London in 1910. Gaudier moved to London with the Polish writer, Sophie Brzeska, with whom he had a long-term relationship. Though the couple never officially married, Henri changed his surname to Gaudier-Brzeska as a symbol of his affection and devotion for Sophie.
In England, Gaudier-Brzeska was inspired by the work of Ezra Pound and Wyndham Lewis who participated in the Vorticism movement. Gaudier-Brzeska began to make sculptures based on Primitive and Cubist aesthetics as well as Chinese calligraphy and poetry.
With the coming of the First World War, Gaudier-Brzeska joined the French army, which led to his early and unfortunate death in the trenches of Neuville-St.-Vast. Soon after his death Sophie was admitted to an insane asylum, where she dies in 1925. After Sophie’s death, Jim Ede, a writer who later published the book “Savage Messiah”, which was based on the artist’s work and life, purchased much of Gaudier-Brzeska’s work. The book was later adapted into a film by Ken Russell.
While Gaudier-Brzeska did not have many years to make work, his reputation has continued to grow post-humanously. His work has greatly influenced modernist sculpture in France, England and around the world. Gaudier-Brzeska’s work can now be seen at the Tate Gallery and the Musée National d’Art Moderne, among other well-known collections. Do you think you may own a piece by Gaudier-Brzeska? Contact us. We are the experts on Henri Gaudier-Brzeska.